I'll relate a story behind a pair of 17's. A friend picked up the second pair for me in Seattle and hooked them up next to his AR 9's. He isn't given to hyperbole but he said "these are the first speakers I've ever hooked up alongside my 9's that didn't make me want to instantly switch back to the 9's" So I've been looking for another pair with good cabinets to give him someday